Hotbox signal



i June 17, 1947. J. P. REYNOLDS 2,422,211

HOTBOX S IGNAL Filed June 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet' 1 Inventor JQHN lRE YNOL 05,

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HOTBOX SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor c/OH/V P REY/v04 05,

A? B! Q J. P. REYNOLDS June 17, 1947.

HOTBOX SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Johw Z? RY/VOL as,

June 17, 1947. J p, REYNOLDS 2,422,211

HOTBOX SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l9 Ly? l I Inventor Ja/m/ 1? 35mm 05,

June W, 11947. .J. P. REYNOLDS HOTBOX SIGNAL Filed June 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet s a 0 0 M R... EV M u Patented June 17,1947

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,422,211 no'rnox SIGNAL John P. Reynolds, Albuquerque, N. M.

Application June 15, 1944, Serial No. 540,497

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hot box signals for railroad rolling stock.

Hot journal boxes are, as a rule, the result of insufficient lubrication, and since this insufliciency is as a rule due to a permanent abnormal condition, the temperature of the journal box and axle increases constantly and soon reaches very high and dangerous values. While it is relatively easy for the personnel to detect a hot box in the stage in which high temperatures have been reached, it is diificult to provide workable safety signals indicating the existence of alarming conditions at relatively low temperatures, in which no permanent damage is likely to have occurred.

The difficulties result from the fact that the signal must not only be safe and stand rather rough handling, but must be associated with each car individually as freight cars, for instance, cannot, be connected with centrally located mechanisms. It has to attract attention unfailingly and has to be visible at night and under very poor visibility conditions for considerable distances at least equal to the length of a freight train.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore to provide an optical signal clearly announcing a dangerous temperature condition of the journal box which is visible to trainmen either from the front or rear of the train and equally well during day or night, even under the most unfavorable weather conditions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a signal associated with each journal box which will automatically operate at a predetermined high temperature.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a flare signal, ignited at a temperature of the journal box which is above the limit to be tolerated but below a temperature causing dainage, and which is produced by the inflammation of a fusee or inflammable body which entertains a clearly visible and characteristic flame for a protracted period of time, said fusee being ignited by a friction mechanism including friction members coated with chemical kindling compounds which are moved While in direct contact with said fusee, and which are normally held in a cocked position, ready for operation by a fusible lock member, melting at the desired temperature.

A further object of the invention consists in arranging the said flare signal producing device on the outside in a convenient, position and in protecting it completely by a fusible cover melting at substantially the same temperature at which; the locking member of the ignition device meltsjw'hich closed shell is preferably held between perforated shells with openings through which the flame of the flare signal developed by the ignited fusee may pass.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is afragmentary side elevational view of a journal box showing the signal mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outside shell.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inside shell.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the soft metal shell.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the signal box base.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled signal.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken 7 on the line 8--8 of Figure 7. v

. Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the mechanism end of the signal.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view through the mechanism end of the signal.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the heat rupturable detent key.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the lineiii-l3 of Figure 7.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the fusee.

In Figures 1 and 2 numeral 5 designates a journal box upon which the improved signal assembly generally referred to by numeral 6, is mounted.

This signal assembly consists of an outer shell 1 and an inner shell'8. These shells are elongated and curved transversely as well as longitudinally at the ends thereof.

The shell 8 fits within the shell 'I and between these two shells is an intermediate rupturable shell 9 constructed. of some suitable soft metal which will melt away at a certain predetermined high temperature.

The shells and 8 are formed with elongated closely spaced openings I 0 through which the flame of the flare signal may easily pass to the 61158168wnentnesotn= 1, disappeared. e

' .Numeral i ldenotes a base-having a lip '12 thereon: over. wh ch the ed e of -theshell flcanoverlap. Th'e'base ii has'outstan'ding ears l3 from which r se. threaded bolts i5. The outside shell 'I' is provided with laterally disposedapertured ears iii .for-rec iv ng 'the threaded'jboltsfil. 'Nu t's' is placed. on the threadedmembers H (seeFigures 1 and 2) hold the shell 1 on the base" Ii. Sliell 1 in its turn holds shells 8 and ten the base memflares and'usually called a'fusee. "the rooves prevent slippa e of the block on'the base ii.

The base I l'may be welded or otherwise secured to the journal box 5. d

' As shown in Figures 9 and .10. a pair of arms 20. 20 depend from the inside of the inner shell 8 adjacent one end thereof and support a pin 2! on which the tubular end 22 of a plate 231s swingable.

A second swingable plate 24 is provided and ad acent ends of the plates 23 and it have interlappin tubular portions hingedly connected by a pin 25.

At the hin ed ends of the plates 23, 24 are openings 28, 21, respectively, through which the leg portions 28 of an elongated strip spring project, the intermediate portion of this spring being looped as at 29 about the hinged connection of the plates 23, 24, while the leg portions bear against the opposed sides of these plates for the purpose of urging the plates apart, and pressing the plate 24 downwardly and against the arcuate surface 30 of the adjacent cut away end portion of the fusee it;

A small block of wood or the like is secured to the free edge of the plate 26 and this is coated with some ignitable material so that during the wiping operation of this element which is generally referred to by numeral 3i, against the. arcuate surface 30 of the fusee l9, it will ignite and set the fusee afire.

The plate 23 has a vertically disposed slot 33 therein and laterally from this extends a short narrow slot 34. v

A fusible key 35 has a cross member 38 at its outer end and a cross member 31 at its inner end. The outer end of the fusible element or key 35 engages the inner shell 8, while its inner end 31 is disposed through the slot 33 and across the slot 34 for holding the plates 23, 24 in the cooked position shown in Figure 9.

As is clearly shown in Figures 8 and 11, the pin 25 projects laterally from the plates 23, 24 and has a tension spring 38 attached thereto, this spring extending to an anchor member 38 on the base i i. I

Spring clips to are secured to the inside of the inner shell 8 and serve to grip and hold the fusee i9 as shown in Figure 13.

It can now be seen, that when the device is properly assembled and secured upon a journal box 5, in the event the journal becomes overheated, the metal parts of the journal box Ii will conduct heat to the signal assembly. The heat will melt the inner shell 9, which will open up the interior of the housing to the atmosphere and .at about the same time, the key 35 will rupture due to the heat and release the spring 88, which will serve to draw the plates 23, 26 to the left in name in'etal shell has a 1 oil the-fusee It. The flare from the fusee will Figured), causing theignite'r 3i to flame and set extend "through the opening in the-shells. 1 and Band will be visible at the side of the car from some distance and it can be readily seen day or night by trainmen. either at the front or rear of #a train."-

While the foregoingspeciflcation sets forth the inve'n'tion in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

- ing an enclosure, a fusee in the enclosure, an

' Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. A'signal of the character described comprisigniter "for the fusee, means for moving the igniter along the surface of the said fusee, means including a, fusible element adapted to hold the igniter in' cocked position and to release the igniter when the same fuses, saidenclosure comprising a base and a shell on the base, said shell consisting of an outer section and an inner section, said sections'having openings therein, and a heat rupturable shell interposed between the said sections.

2. -A signal of the character described comprising an enclosure, a fusee in the enclosure, an igniter for the fusee, means for moving the igniter along the surface of the said fusee, means including a fusible element adapted to hold the igniter in cocked position and to release the igniter when the same fuses, said enclosure comprising a base and a shell on the base, said shell consisting of an outer section and an inner section, said sections having openings therein, and a heat rupturable shell interposed between said sections, and securing means between the outer shell section and the base.

3. A signal of the character described comprising an enclosure, a fusee in the enclosure, an igniter for the fusee, means for moving the igniter along the surface of the said fusee, means including a fusible element adapted to hold the igniter in cocked position and to release the igniter when the same fuses, said fusee having an arcuate surface and said igniter being swingable and provided with an end coated with-combustible inflammable material wiping the arcuate surface of the fusee for causing said fusee to become ignited.

4. In a signal arrangement for indicating the overheating of journal boxes of railroad cars, a fiare signal producing device comprising a perforated casing arranged near the journal box, a block of inflammable material for producing the flare signal enclosed within said casing, a spring pressed mechanism and a fusible member for locking said mechanism under tension in a cocked to kindle the said inflammable block when so' moved to produce the flame of the flare signal passin through the outside through the perforations of the casing.

5. In a signal arrangement for indicating the overheating of journal boxes ofrailroad cars,

a flare signal producing device comprising a closed casing arranged near the journal box, a block of inflammable material for producing the flare signal enclosed within said casing, a spring pressed mechanism and a rigid fusible member for locking said mechanism under tension in a cocked position, said rigid member being made of a material losing cohesion and releasing the spring pressed mechanism at a predetermined temperature, an igniter carried by said spring pressed mechanism, said mechanismcomprising members for rapidly moving the igniter along the block of inflammable material and in frictional contact with thesame when released and moving under spring pressure, said igniter being adapted to kindle the said inflammable block when so moved to produce the flame of the flare signal passing through the outside through the perforations of the casing, said closed casing comprising a shell destroyed by heat, and'a permanent perforated casing.

6. In a signal arrangement for indicating the overheating of journal boxes of-railroad cars, a flare signal producing device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the block of inflammable material is provided with an arcuate end surface and the spring pressed mechanism comprises a pivot held in the casing near said arcuate surface, a member swingable around said pivot, provided with a perforation for the attachment of the rigid fusible member. a spring urging said swing'a'ble member towards and along said block, a pintle carried by said swingable member and an igniter carrying arm, swingable around said pintle, a leaf spring urging said igniter carrying arm outwardly towards and into contact with the arcuate surface of the block, and maintaining a pressure between said parts, said igniter carrying arm being moved along the arcuate surface of the block while under the pressure of the leaf spring when the rigid fusible member releases the swingable arm. v

' JOHN P. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I N umber Name Date 349,937 Griswold, et al Sept. 28,1886 903,828 Bates Nov; 17, 1908 919,085 St. Clair Apr. 20, 1909 1,189,043 Below June 27, 1916 1,367,498 Pierce Feb. 1, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain June 4, 1914 

